Trains.com

NJTransit Riverline Compatibility

3899 views
19 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
NJTransit Riverline Compatibility
Posted by alloboard on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 11:27 PM

Can 85ft coaches operate over the former Camden and Amboy now "Riverline" on it's entire lenght from Trenton NJ to Camden?

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 7:01 AM

I don't see why not.  The line was built to conventional (not interurban) standards and freight service is provided on the line when the NJ Transit service is not operating.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Posted by alloboard on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 9:08 AM

Remember that freight cars are shorter, and at the time the line was built, the coaches were shorter. If conventional trains with low level platformng can operate on this line with the "Hill Track" connection restored, shouldn't NJTransit be adding some special trains from Atlantic City that would use the northbound connection at Pennsauken to run to Trenton with some low level platforming stops or no stops to Trenton and newark or New York?

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 1,097 posts
Posted by Buslist on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 11:40 AM

alloboard

Remember that freight cars are shorter, and at the time the line was built, the coaches were shorter. If conventional trains with low level platformng can operate on this line with the "Hill Track" connection restored, shouldn't NJTransit be adding some special trains from Atlantic City that would use the northbound connection at Pennsauken to run to Trenton with some low level platforming stops or no stops to Trenton and newark or New York?

 

The FRA has required temporal separation on this route. In other words no "railroad sized" equipment operating on the line during light rail operations. All "railroad" operations conducted during the off hours. So it's a moot point.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Posted by alloboard on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 12:07 PM

Why no "railroad sized" equipment operating on the line during light rail operations?

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • 3,231 posts
Posted by NorthWest on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 3:39 PM

It all has to do with crashworthiness. The Riverline Stadler DMUs do not meet the FRA standards and so cannot operate on a railroad with railroad equipment.

One can always take the Atlantic City Line to PATCO to the Riverline.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Posted by alloboard on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 4:48 PM

There may be some couple special trains that can run from AC to Trenton and beyond along with freight service during the overnight hours from 9:30PM-5:00AM

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, February 23, 2017 12:54 PM

The major portion of the River Line is on the old PRR-CAmden & Ambey RoW.  But new-for-the-line street running in Camden has cuves too sharp.    CSX freight service does not use that portion of the line.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 1,097 posts
Posted by Buslist on Saturday, February 25, 2017 1:08 AM

daveklepper

The major portion of the River Line is on the old PRR-CAmden & Ambey RoW.  But new-for-the-line street running in Camden has cuves too sharp.    CSX freight service does not use that portion of the line.

 

I believe it's Conrail (Joint Assets) that operates the route, not CSX.

RME
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 2,073 posts
Posted by RME on Saturday, February 25, 2017 1:16 AM

Buslist
I believe it's Conrail (Joint Assets) that operates the route, not CSX.

Isn't it 'Shared Assets?'

Anyway, he's right: the Bordentown Secondary freight work is Conrail Shared Assets Operations, not CSX.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,971 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Saturday, February 25, 2017 6:48 AM

daveklepper

The major portion of the River Line is on the old PRR-CAmden & Ambey RoW.  But new-for-the-line street running in Camden has cuves too sharp.    CSX freight service does not use that portion of the line.

 

+1 Below Pavonia (Conrail's yard in Camden) the RiverLine is on it's own right of way.  Also, the last short stretch into the station at Trenton is not Class 1 compatible - another sharp curve).  I suppose if the connection at from the NEC to the RiverLine was restored, you could operate passenger trains in the dead of night from Trenton south. 

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Saturday, February 25, 2017 1:37 PM

Appreciate the correction, Conrail Shared Assets. 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • 55 posts
Posted by XOTOWER on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9:28 AM

The Pennsauken Transit Center was built as a one station connection from the River Line to the Atlantic City Line. PATCO is no longer necessary. You get off River Line and walk upstairs to AC Line. Its a nice set up. Thank you Governor Chris Christie.  Also, the RiverLine trains run on 14 minute intervals in both directions. It would be kind of hard to squeeze in a big slow NJT train with 7 or 8 coaches.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • 55 posts
Posted by XOTOWER on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9:35 AM

There is no "beyond."  The River Line dead stops at Trenton across the street from the NE corridor main line.  Never the train shall meet.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 9:38 AM

And the logical extension in Trenton would not be to a switch to the tracks of the NEC but a continuation up the street to the Statehouse.

  • Member since
    June 2013
  • From: Lynbrook, NY
  • 12 posts
Posted by Railoffroader2 on Monday, March 6, 2017 6:49 PM

XOTOWER

There is no "beyond."  The River Line dead stops at Trenton across the street from the NE corridor main line.  Never the train shall meet.

 

This isn't entirely correct as there still lies a track that originally connected to this route that was severed and route diverted across the street where it now terminates.

If this existing track were reconnected the route would be connected to the NEC via Amtrak Trenton Station.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • 55 posts
Posted by XOTOWER on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:24 AM
That makes sense but why then build the new station when you already have a huge one in service across the street.
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 10:38 AM

Has Shared Asetts kept the track going straight off the River Line north through a connection to the Freehold Secondary to Souith Amboy in servcie?  Or is the only River Line freight connection south to the old Camden tracks to Lindenwald? If both north and south freight connecdtions are in, which gets the most freight service?`

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,971 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Thursday, March 16, 2017 8:15 AM

daveklepper

Has Shared Asetts kept the track going straight off the River Line north through a connection to the Freehold Secondary to Souith Amboy in servcie?  Or is the only River Line freight connection south to the old Camden tracks to Lindenwald? If both north and south freight connecdtions are in, which gets the most freight service?`

The connection to the old Camden and Amboy is still there, but the Camden and Amboy is severed north of there.

To the south, the RiverLine uses the old right of way from Pavonia south from Pavonia to Broadway, then runs in the street from there.  

There is a freight connection to the Delair bridge and th ae old PRR - West Jersey and Seashore extension to Lindenwold.  Freight traffic to/from Pavonia uses the bridge.  There is a local that serves Mt. Holly that uses a small portion of the route to the east as the direct route from Mt. Holly to Camden south of the bridge route has been abandoned.

Where the bridge route crosses the RiverLine, there is an new station to allow connection to AC trains, but the rail connection that the Nellie Bly used there is long gone (as is the connection at Trenton to the NEC)

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 971 posts
Posted by alloboard on Thursday, March 16, 2017 12:47 PM

The connection to the Nellie Bly used is still there good as new but used only for freight.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy